Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic unissued example of a German WWII Issue M31 Feldflasche (Field Bottle) aluminum canteen water bottle rig, with all parts except for the cup and harness maker marked MN42. It has the correct aluminum screw top cap, a genuine wool cover with S.H.B marked snaps, and a bakelite cup. This is held together by the standard black leather belt harness, which has a painted steel belt hook on the back, for attaching to the combat rigging.
The maker’s stamp on the canteen, MN42, is for the maker Metallindustrie GmbH. Neunkirchen-Saar (MENESA), and the 42 indicates production year, 1942. Canteen makers never switched to the three letter code system during the war, and continued to use abbreviations throughout the war. The aluminum top cap still has the sealing washer, though we cannot guarantee it still holds water. The Bakelite cup is marked gfc.
All components are in great used condition, and do show wear and age. The canteen cover has very few flaws, but the snaps are a bit rusted on the interior, and great care should be taken when removing them. The leather carrier is still solid, the Bakelite cup is in fantastic condition, and this canteen would make an excellent part of any WWII German display!